Hello group-
I was recently introduced to Mach3 by a friend who has a small engraver that is run with Mach3. He and I also have a CNC Masters Baron CNC tabletop mill. He has had his for ~10 years, I bought mine this past March. I know how to use it and I am a competent machinist. I am considering replacing the Master XU software with Mach3.
I have read the Mach3 Controller Software & Configuration Manual. I also bought and read David Benson's book, CNC Solutions for the Experimenter. I want to go slowly and understand what I'm doing and how it works as I go. So I want to start with something that I can attach to my existing machine to display actual spindle RPM. I believe an encoder will do this. I don't think I would have problems with mounting the encoder (or other suitable pickup) to the machine - that part is mechanical. I understand the general concept is to count pulses as it rotates but I have no idea what device, software, breadboards, cabling, power supply ... I would need or want. And can I make the actual RPM display on a Mach3 screen?
Can someone recommend hardware that I can buy to measure actual spindle RPM?
Thanks in advance
Stephen.